Atelier Ecru (Ghent) will debut at Design Miami/ with a display that celebrates timeless furniture and collectible design objects that reflect the best of Belgian craftsmanship. The display will showcase pieces that uphold high-quality craftsmanship, spotlighting the unique approach Belgian designers and artists take to materiality. Each piece on display will tell a story, whether it's the inspiration behind the design or the materials used to create it.

Atelier Ecru (Ghent) will debut at Design Miami/ with a display that celebrates timeless furniture and collectible design objects that reflect the best of Belgian craftsmanship. The display will showcase pieces that uphold high-quality craftsmanship, spotlighting the unique approach Belgian designers and artists take to materiality. Each piece on display will tell a story, whether it's the inspiration behind the design or the materials used to create it.

æquō (Mumbai), India’s first collectible design gallery, will make its debut at Design Miami/ with a curated selection of pieces from its new collection Panna by Creative Director Florence Louisy. Louisy’s Panna encompasses an array of sculptural pieces, crafted through the art of folding diverse materials - from copper oxidized in Jaipur, and burnt pieces enameled in Alibag, to soft Kashmiri felt. At its core, Panna is a profound tribute to India’s rich craft heritage, and a considered blend with contemporary design. Panna will be presented alongside works by Cédric Courtin, Wendy Andreu, Valeriane Lazard, Frédéric Imbert and Boris Brucher, all of which, whilst unique in their own right, are united by an exploration of materiality and craft.

First-time exhibitor, Galerie Mélissa Paul (London) will present a thoughtfully curated exhibition, presenting designs that challenge the boundaries of functional art - providing a glimpse of the voices that are currently redefining contemporary collectible design. Renowned historical designers will be in dialogue with contemporary artists, to celebrate the art of living and the power of design to transcend the limitations of utility into high art. Highlights include Bertrand Créac’h’s Louange III sculpture, which depicts an abstracted exploration of the mineral landscapes of Brittany, where Créac’h grew up.

HISTORIC ICONS/
​Where We Stand encourages looking towards our shared future, many galleries responded to this by considering historic icons, and their invaluable contributions to the present day design landscape.

Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts (New York) will present significant historical designs from the early 20th Century. Marking its debut at Design Miami/, the presentation will display works by iconic names including an important Frank Lloyd Wright chandelier from his Browne's Bookstore Commission, alongside a Tiffany Glass Mosaic directly from his studio. Nicola D’Asenzo’s large art deco glass installation will be on display alongside a selection of chair designs by Josef Hoffman spanning 1900-1910.

Moderne Gallery (Philadelphia) will present an exhibition devoted to historic designs from the 20th century in conversation with contemporary works from the 21st century. A major focus will center around the significant works of George Nakashima. Meanwhile, Lebreton (Monaco) will present a unique collection of ceramics from the French Riviera, spanning the 1950s to 1980s alongside a unique selection of furniture by major French designers including Suzanne Ramie and André Aleth-Masson.

Friedman Benda (New York/Los Angeles) will respond to the curatorial theme Where We Stand through a conversation between historic and contemporary designers. The designs on display are united by their invitation to consider slow and contemplative interaction, emphasizing simplicity, elegance, and asymmetry of organic forms. Works by the likes of Wendell Castle and Bruno Gambone will be presented alongside Faye Toogood and Byung Hoon Choi. The exhibition will present an international array of designers who, coming from vastly different trajectories, all arrive at the same appreciation of design and material sensibility.

MATERIALITY & TECHNOLOGY/
​In acknowledging the critical role of design in carving the future, many galleries focus on the significance of materiality and the hand of technology.

Cristina Grajales (New York) will present an immersive vignette, inviting visitors to walk through a garden-like scene. The presentation will be centered around 3D printed light fixtures designed by Virginia San Fratello. Coated in an inviting texture and vibrant hues of yellow, pink, and orange, these luminous pieces elicit intense feelings of joy. The lighting fixtures will be displayed in a manner that carves a path through the presentation; meanwhile, Sam Baron’s delicate porcelain works will be laced between the glowing totems. The result will be a conversation between the carefully sculpted polished curves of Baron’s work, and the furry, brightly colored shapes of San Fratello’s lights. Through placing these strikingly contrasting works in conversation together, an emphasis is placed on the materiality of the designs, and invitation to engage with the contrasting textures.

Ippodo Gallery (New York) continues its mission to present the works of Japanese makers, through an exhibition that places an emphasis on human craftsmanship and materiality. The objects on display respond to today’s fast-paced society that experiences frequent transformations. Highlights include Susumu Shingu’s elegantly engineered sculptures that shift and change depending on the state of wind and gravity. Shingu’s kinetic sculptures oppose the perception that the world around us is static, welcoming frequent transformations whilst also acknowledging the surrounding nature.